The Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to introduce a new approach for obtaining essential medicines, aimed at strengthening uninterrupted and efficient supply to the public.
Under the partnership, medicines that are difficult to procure through Sri Lanka’s national procurement system will be accessed via international mechanisms. Officials noted this will be particularly important for drugs with limited market access, few global suppliers, or small‑scale production.
The MoU was signed at the Ministry of Finance under the leadership of Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, with Secretary Anil Jasinghe, UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota, and Finance Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma also placing their signatures.
The programme is expected to strengthen procurement and supply chain management, while enhancing the resilience and efficiency of Sri Lanka’s health service delivery system. Medicines will be sourced through UNDP’s global procurement networks of pre‑qualified suppliers, subject to quality assurance processes and oversight by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
Officials said large‑scale global purchasing will enable competitive pricing and more efficient access to medicines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
UNDP has decades of experience supporting governments worldwide in sustainable procurement, supply chain management, digital innovation, and institutional capacity building. The partnership is expected to ensure Sri Lankans receive quality health services and essential medicines more efficiently and at fair prices, strengthening the country’s free healthcare system. (Newswire)
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